2009-2010 Graduate Student Handbook
Specialist certificate
This handbook supplements—it does not replace—the information
provided in the Graduate
School Catalog (www.grad.umn.edu/catalog) and by the student’s
track. Additional requirements tailored to your interests may result
from discussions with your adviser. Any changes in educational
psychology core requirements will be distributed through the
EPsy student electronic mailing list and posted at
Educational Psychology Student News. Please be sure to read
all the materials you receive since you are responsible for
fulfilling degree requirements.
On this page:
- Steps to earning the specialist certificate
in educational psychology
- Degree requirements
- Procedures for obtaining the specialist
certificate
Steps to earning the specialist certificate
in educational psychology
A student may earn a specialist certificate in special education,
school psychology, or counseling and student personnel psychology.
The Graduate School requirements for a specialist are listed
in the
Graduate
School Catalog. These Graduate School requirements, combined
with the Educational Psychology Department requirements, are briefly
summarized here.
Degree requirements
Academic credits
The Graduate School requires specialist certificate in education
students to complete a minimum of 60 semester credits to be distributed
(after consultation with the adviser) between major and outside
coursework.
Specific core area requirements include four credits in statistics
and measurement, three credits in learning, three credits
in social psychology or personality, three credits in research
methods, and six credits in EPsy electives.
Written competency
Neither the Graduate School nor the Department of Educational
Psychology requires evidence of written competency for specialist
certificate students; however, some tracks within educational psychology
may. For example, some specialist certificate students may be required
to complete a specialist paper or research paper depending upon
their background. Consult with your track area coordinator and adviser.
Annual review
All graduate students must complete an annual student
progress review. The process for the review varies by track;
follow the process for your track. The purpose of this review
is to monitor progress in the degree program and document
development and achievements. Failure to complete annual
progress review may be grounds for termination from the graduate
program in Educational Psychology.
Final examination
The Graduate School requires specialist certificate students
to successfully complete either a final written or a final oral
examination. The nature of the final examination is determined by
your track and/or committee members. The purpose of the examination
is to judge your overall qualifications and competency for a specialist
certificate being conferred.
Miscellaneous
- 4xxx and EDHD 5xxx may not be used for
a graduate degree.
- Grades. Courses taken to fulfill EPsy core requirements
must be taken A-F. Since in most cases the specialist certificate
is seen as an extension of the M.A. program, the same minimum
grade requirements for the M.A. are used for Specialist students.
Specifically, the minimum GPA of courses listed on your official
Degree Program form is 2.8 (on a 4.0 scale). Grades of A, B,
C (including C-), and S are acceptable on the official program;
however, grades of S are not calculated in the GPA. At least
two-thirds of the course credits listed on your Degree Program
form, excluding transferred credits, must be taken A-F.
- Transfer of credits requirement. A minimum of 50
percent of the credits must be earned at the University of Minnesota.
- Time limit for completion. The maximum time allowed
by the Graduate School for completing the specialist certificate
is 12 years. This 12-year period begins with the term in which
the oldest work listed on the official Degree Program
form is taken, including transferred credits. Note: Graduate
credits earned prior to the 12-year span may be evaluated by
your track/program area coordinator and petitioned to the DGS
and subsequently the Graduate School.
- Active student status. To maintain active status,
you must register every semester (excluding summer). If you
do not register, you are considered to have withdrawn; your
Graduate School records are deactivated. Inactive students
may not register for courses, take examinations, submit degree
program or petition forms, file for graduation, or otherwise
participate in the University community as Graduate School students.
Those who wish to resume graduate work must request readmission
to Graduate School and their Program Area. Students who are
readmitted will be held to course/credit requirements
current at the time of readmission. If readmitted, you must
register in the Graduate School for the semester of readmission
to regain your active status.
- Grad 999 registration. If you have no courses to
take, you may register using the zero-cost/zero-credit
option, Grad 999. Do not register for Grad 999 if you must
be registered to hold an assistantship, maintain legal visa
status, defer loans, receive financial aid, or for any
reason other than to meet the Graduate School's registration
requirement. Please note that EPsy students may not
register for Grad 999 more than 4 times. If you register
for Grad 999 more than 4 times, a registration hold will be
placed on your record.
- Language requirement. None required at either the
Graduate School or the Educational Psychology Department graduate
program levels.
Procedures for obtaining the specialist
certificate
The chart below is intended to help students conceptualize the
steps needed to complete the specialist certificate. You should
also refer to the
Graduate
School Catalog for detailed information. Track requirements
are not included here.
| Approximate time table |
What to anticipate and complete |
Forms required |
(If transferring from an M.A. to the specialist
certificate) |
Note: If previously admitted as
an M.A. student in the University of Minnesota Graduate
School, then you must complete a Graduate School Change
of Status form on which you request your change of degree
objective from the M.A. to the specialist certificate.
In addition, please check with your track/program
area to see what they require for a transfer from the M.A.
to the specialist certificate.
|
Change of Status form available from and returned
directly to the Graduate School Track area change of status
forms / paperwork
|
| On entrance |
- Orientation
- Meet with your adviser to begin conceptualizing
M.A. program. Find out what your track requires (those
in addition to EPsy core).
- Register for classes.
|
Obtain handouts on required coursework
in track, if applicable. Obtain registration materials,
as instructed.
|
| By completion of 20 semester credits* |
- Plan course schedule with your adviser.
- Complete the Degree Program
form. Obtain necessary transcripts; secure approval
of committee members and adviser.
- Submit completed Degree Program
form and Examining Committee Consent form to the DGS
assistant for review at EPsy level. The DGS forwards
the Degree Program form to the Graduate School
for final approval. The Graduate School sends you a
copy of Degree Program form when approved (allow
6-8 weeks).
|
Track checklist
Degree Program
form [.pdf]
Examining Committee
Consent form [.pdf]
|
|
A hold will be placed on your record
by DGS if you do not submit your Degree Program by
the time you complete 24 semester credits. You will be unable
to register, to obtain a transcript, etc. until the hold
is released by the DGS.
|
| By 1st day of final semester |
- Request Graduate Packet
- Submit Commencement Attendance
Approval form. These must be in the Graduate School
(316 Johnston) by Oct. 1 for the fall commencement ceremony
and by March 1 for spring. (Degree Program must be on
file in order to be eligible to participate in commencement.
Submit to DGS assistant 4 days in advance for DGS signature.)
|
Graduation Packet
Commencement Attendance |
| After courses completed |
- Complete specialist certificate paper
|
|
| By 1st working day of the month you wish
to graduate |
- Submit the completed Application
for Degree to 200 Fraser.
- Schedule final examination. (Track
requirements vary; consult with adviser or coordinator
about steps to be taken.)
|
Application for Degree |
| By last working day of the month you wish
to graduate. |
- After successfully completing final
exam, committee signs the Report of Committee for
the Specialist Certificate form. Return signed form
to the Graduate School (316 Johnston).
CONGRATULATIONS!!!
|
Report of Committee for the Specialist
Certificate form |
July 2009 |
